Switch mechanism



April 18, 1933. r R. POPP 1,904,927

SWITCH MECHANI SM Filed May 12, 1931 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 T D A. B ,QF CE 7f RUDOLF, Port, or vanranarsol nnraiva, AssIGNon 'roMcerLI..iw.a1v rAcruni1ve COMPANY, OFIVALPARAISQINDIANA, A oonronaw olv orINDIANA! e l 1 swiron nEcH NIsI Application illed nayfm,

. My inventionrelates to a switch mechanism and more particularly to'aconnector device for actuating the switch mechanism. 1

In a socket or electric lamp switch it is customary to actuate thecontact elements by avertical movement of alever or chain which 1sconverted to a' horizontal movement througha universal connection.

An object of the invention is. to provide a new and lmproved universalconnectiom j A further object is'to provide a simple and effectiveuniversal connection which is'economical to manufacture. .3 i=

A further object is to provide a universal connection which may readilyand conveniently be assembled.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan'view of a switch partially disassembled and embodyingthe invention,

Fig. 2 is a similarviewwith the cover and top plate ofthe switchmechanism removed,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of a device embodying theinvention,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connector used in the device, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. t

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a switch mechanism is shownmounted between'a pair of insulating plates 12 and 13 of any suitableinsulating material, which are spaced apart and held in position by apair of posts 14 and 15. which extend through the plates and are upsetat their upper and lower ends to clamp the plates and hold them inposition.

A U shaped member 16 is upported between the plates 12 and 13 and hasprojections adapted to extend into these plates to hold the member inposition. This member has a round collar 17 attached to its end, andforms a fulcrum or pivot for a tubular lever 18. Collar 17 has anaperture extending through its center through which an arm or stem 19projects. The end of stem 19 is provided with a head 21 and carries a Ushaped pawl 22. The stem 19 is continuously urged to the left as viewedin Fig. 2, by a spring 23, one

1931. Serial a... 536,823.

end of which rests against the base of shaped member 16, while the otherend rests against thepawl- 22.3Pawl 22 engages a ratchet wheel 24 andupon reciprocation of the ratchet :wheel a toothed contact bridgingmember '24 is rotated. This contactbridging member isprovidedwith-aplurality of teeth it and, alternate teeth are provided with conducting faces, all of whichare. electrically interconnected. Posts, 14and l5'support stationary contact member 26, which engage. diametrically opposite teeth of the contact bridging member and in oneposition of the. contact bridging member posts :14 and 15 areelectrically inter-connected and in another position ofthis member. thecircuit between these posts is broken. Each of these posts is providedwith a screw 27 for connecting an electrical conductor tothe. posts toplace the switch mechanism in an electricalv circuit.' The switchmechanism thusfar' described .is more fully disclosed in-my'copendingappli-' cation, Serial #512,836, filed Feb. 2,1931. 1 In orderf toreciprocate thestem 19. and cause rotation of the contact bridgingmember, aconnector'28 is-pivotally connected to the stem 19 andsecuredwithi'n the tubular" I lever 18. -The connector comprises a pairof arm's 29-31 and a second pair of arms 32:533. The arms. 29 and 31 areconnected at} their ends, and the arm 32 is connected to one end of arms29 and 31, while the arm 33 is connected' to the other end of arms 29and 31. The lower end of arm33 is formed into a loop 345 which passesthrough an aperture .in arm19to provide a pivotalconn'ection be;t'wee'n'the arm andtheconnecto'r." I'In a'ssm? bling thisportionoftheswitch 'mechanism; 9

the 'arm' 33 is merelyinserted through theeye I let or aperture: in arm19 and the end'links of the ball linkfchain35 are placed between thearms of the connector. The upper end of' arm 33 is bent inwardly asshown at 36to pre-x vent the ball' links fromv being withdrawn from theconnector. The tubularlever: 18. is then placed over the ball link chainas, shown in Fig.1. -One side of the tubular lever is provided with aslot 37 andthelever is placed:

over the connector in such aposition that the.

slot coincides in: positionv v with arm '32. .As

ing therethrough just large enough to reamount of machine work in themanufacture of these parts. In accordance with the press ent invention,the lever mechanism may be assembledwithout the use of any tools of anykind. The invention further permits the tubular lever 18 to be drawnfrom sheet metal. The upper end of the lever is provided with acylindrical portion 38 which has an openceive a link of the ball linkchain. The other end of this lever has an annular flange 39 providedwith a cylindrical extension 41, which fits in an annular groove 42 inbase 17. This i groove together with the fact that loop 34 extends intothe aperture in base 17 prevents the lever from being laterallydisplaced and insures a pivoting movement of the lever 30 when a tensionis applied to chain 35.

It will be understood that the nature and embodiment of the inventionherein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful formof the invention, and that many changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 7

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is 1. An operating device for switch mechanisms comprisinga tubular leverhaving a wall recess, a connector for attaching the leverto a switch mechanism adapted to be inserted into the lever from oneend, and a spring catch for the connector adapted to snap into therecess to hold the lever and connector together.

2. An operating device for switch mecha nisms comprising a tubularlever, a U-shaped connector for attaching the lever to a switchmechanism adapted to be inserted by the forked end into the leverfrom'one end, said forked end being shaped to receive and hold aball-ended chain when the connector is in the lever, and a-spring catchfor removably locking the connector and chain in the. lever.

3. A pull chain connector for switch mechanisms comprising a tubular caphaving a wall opening,a connector adapted to be inserted in the cap forreceiving the chain at one end and connecting to the switch mechanism atits other end, and a spring catch for the connector adapted to snap intothe wall opening to hold the connector and thereby the chain in the cap.

4. A pull chain connector for switch mechanisms comprising a tubular caphaving a wall opening, a connector adapted to be inserted in the cap forreceiving the chain at one end and connecting to the switch mechanism atits other end, and a spring catch for the connector adapted to snapinto; the wall opening, to hold the connector and thereby the chain inthe cap, said spring'catch being pressable inwardly clear of the wallthrough said opening to remove the cap and chain from-the connector.

5. An operating device for switch mechanisms comprising a universallyoperable tubular leverhaving a wall recess, a longitudinal connector forattaching ,the lever to a switch mechanism by one end and to hold aball-ended chain in the other end when in-- serted in. the lever, and aspring catch carried by the connector longitudinally thereof and adaptedto snap into the recess when the connector is inserted in the'lever,said catch having a free end edge'engaging the recess whereby anyoperation of the lever is against said edge of the catch tocorrespondingly operate the connector.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty-seventh dayof April,

- RUDOLF POPP.

